Display and shipping carton



W. J- WELLS M 4, Tl95 CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2, 1945INVENTOR h/L'ZZ'iam J Wells ATTORNEY Jam! 24, 1950 w. J. WELLS 2,495,676

DISPLAY AND SHIPPING CARTON Filed Jan. 22, 1945 5 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTORh/LZZ'LQT/Z L/ Wells" BY ATTORNEY Jam 24, I950 wfJ. WELLS 2,495,676

DISPLAY AND SHIPPING CARTON Filed Jan. 22., 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR wo'lfiu'am J. Wells M QM,

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 24, 1950 DISPLAY AND SHIPPING CARTON William J.Wells, Bufialo, N. Y., assignor to F. N.

Burt Company, Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication January 22, 1945, Serial No. 573,830

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in cartons, more particularlythose constructed of sheet material, such as, cardboard, paperboard,plastics, and other sheet materials adapted to be folded to set up thecarton in usable condition, or to be collapsed intoflat condition.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a carton of the classmentioned that can readily be set up in shipping condition to containthe goods or articles in condition for shipment or storage, and alsoreadily adjusted into display condition so as to display the goods orcontents, such as boxes of cigarettes or other merchandise, so as topresent an attractive display as, for example, for use in retail stores.

It is a further and more particular object of he invention to provide acarton of the class mentioned having an improved structure whereby itcan be readily set up into shipping condition wherein the side walls orpanels are substantially at right angles to the top and bottom, andreadily adjusted into display condition wherein certain of the panelssuch as the front and rear panels are inclined slightly to the bottom soas to present the contents in attractive and convenient position forobservation or display.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a carton of the classmentioned, an improved interlocking flap construction for the ends orsides of the carton, providing for adjustment of certain of the panelsof the carton from shipping condition into display condition, and forsupporting said panels in either of their said positions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a carton of theclass mentioned, an improved interlocking tab construction havingadjustable interlocking engagement with each other for supporting thecarton in shipping condition or in display condition, and having animproved protective flap construction that can be readily set up intooperative position for providing an enclosing supporting and protectivecasing for the interlocking tabs.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a carton of the classmentioned, an improved protective and supporting casing for the end tabstructure that can be readily assembled into operative position andinterlocked with the bottom of the carton for retaining it permanentlyin place.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in thefollowing detailed disclosure of an illustrative but preferredembodiment of 2 the invention, and will be in part obvious as thedisclosure proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more comprehensive disclosure of the objects and advantages of theimproved carton, reference is had to the following detailed descriptionand to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the carton set up in shipping conditionand showing the outer protective casing or sleeve partially removed fromthe inner carton part;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the inner carton part set up in displaycondition and showing the contents, each as boxes of cigarettes, etc.,supported in display condition;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank of sheet material formed so that itcan be set up into condition to form the display part of the carbon;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view showing the endstructure of the inner or display part of the carton partiallyassembled, or in process of formation, and showing the interlockingflaps and the flap forming the protective casing therefor;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the end structure fullyassembled with the protective end flap interlocked with the cartonbottom; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view of the cartonset up in display condition as in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing for a detailed description of the illustrativeembodiment of the invention there shown, the improvements are embodiedin a carton for containing the multiplicity of paper boxes A adapted tocontain cigarettes or other material. It will be understood, however,that the improved cartonmay be used to contain other materials. Thecarton as shown embodies an inner or display part I adapted forreceiving the boxes A and an outer casing or sleeve 2 into which theinner part I is adapted to telescope in closely fitting relation. Boththe inner and outer parts of the carton are preferably constructed ofcardboard, paperboard, fiberboard, plastic material, or other similarsheet material but the inner or display part I is preferably made of afiner grade of material than the outer casing 2 so as to be capable ofbeing decorated to present an attractive appearance. The outer casing 2is preferably made of a heavier and coarser grade of stout cardboard andis intended to protect and support the inner display part with itscontents during handling, shipping, etc. The outer protective casing ispreferably of boxlike construction in which the side, bottom and endadjoining walls are substantially at right angles to each other forreceiving the inner part I when the latter is adjusted into its shippingposition with the side and end walls thereof substantially upright or atright angles with the bottom thereof.

The outer protective casing 2 may be of any preferred known structureand it preferably has end closing devices such as embodied in the sideflaps 3 integral with the side walls or panels of the casing and adaptedto swing into closing position across the ends of the casing. Anadditional closure flap 4 is integrally connected with the top wall ofthe casing and is adapted to swing into closing position over the closedflaps 3 and is provided with a tuck-in flap or flange 5 adapted to betucked in between the bottom of the display part I and the lower orbottom wall of the casing 2 and to be held in closed position byfrictional engagement in well known manner. This type of end closure maybe used for both ends of the outer casing 2.

As shown in Fig. 3 the inner or display part of the carton is preferablyconstructed from a single integral blank 6 having the requisite shapeand size so as to be folded along certain lines to form the completedisplay part. The blank 6 may be die-cut or otherwise formed to providea bottom panel I, side panels 8 and 9, a top panel or flap It, a displayor stick-up tab end closure flaps l2 and I3, and protective end flaps lladapted to be folded in enclosing relation over the end flaps I2 and I3as later fully described. The material of the blank is preferablyscored, creased or otherwise weakened along longitudinal lines l5 andtransverse lines I6 so as to define the various flaps and panels of theblank and to render the blank easily bendable or foldable along theseweakened lines into folded or set-up condition to form the completedisplay part of the carton. The stick-up or display tab II is definedalong one edge by the adjacent creased line l5 along which it isattached so as to be bent or folded into different positions on theadjacent top flap 10. The other sides of this display tab are formed bythe cut or incision preferably extending entirely through the sheetmaterial. The flaps I are additionally provided with scored or creasedweakened fold lines 18 providing irmer and outer sections I9 and 20 foreach flap l4, and a terminal flange 2| which, as later described,functions to support the protective end flap M in operative position.

For the purpose of supporting the front and rear side panels 3 and 9 ineither erect positions when the carton is set up for shipping purposes,or in inclined display position when the carton is set up for displaypurposes, the end closure flaps l2 and I3 at each end of the carton arespecially constructed and arranged. In the illustrative embodiment theend flaps l2 on the front panel 8 are cut so as to have inclined inneror lower edges 22, and each flap is also provided with a cut or incision23 extending entirely through the sheet material and providing anelongated slot or opening for receiving parts of the opposite endclosure flap l3.

Each end closure flap I3 has an inner or lower straight edge portion '24substantially longitudinally aligned with the adjacent creased line l5,and formed by a cut or incision extending entirely through the blank.The flaps I: also have supporting lugs or tongues 25 preferably as shownforming integral parts thereof and adapted to enter in supportingrelation into the respective incisions 23 of the flaps l2. The inner andouter edges of the lugs 25 as shown are preferably curved so as tocooperate with the cuts 23 of the end closure flaps l2 to permit limitedswinging movement of the latter when the front panel 8 is tilted fromshipping position to display position or vice versa. Each supporting lug25 is formed at its inner or lower side with an abrupt shoulder 26, andon its outer or upper side with an abrupt shoulder or lug 21. Theseabrupt shoulders 26 and 21 function as limiting stops to limit theswinging or tilting movements of the front and rear panels 8 and 9 asmore fully described below.

Formed in the bottom panel 1 adjacent to each of the opposite endsthereof, is a slit or incision 28 preferably extending entirely throughthe sheet material and being outwardly ofiset intermediate its ends asat 29 to provide an outwardly projecting lug or supporting member 30.The incisions 28 are spaced from the adjacent inner end surfaces of thecarton for a distance substantially equal to or slightly less than thewidth of the terminal attaching flanges 2| of the protective end flapsl4, and the attaching lugs 30 are spaced slightly less than thisdistance so that the attaching flanges 2|, due to the resilient oryielding nature of the material, can be forced or snapped into attachingposition in which the outer edge portion of the flanges are interlockedin securing relation with the attaching and supporting lugs. Thisprovides a very convenient and inexpensive attaching device whereby theprotective end flaps M can be attached in operative position with aminimum of time and effort, while the use of adhesives or specialattaching devices is entirely avoided.

From the foregoing detailed description of the construction of the blank6, it will now be readily understood how this blank can be quickly andeasily set up into operative position, and when so set up it will bereadily seen how the inner or display part of the container can bereadily adjusted from its upright condition assumed when inserted intothe outer protective casin 2 for shipment, into its inclined displaycondition when removed from the casing. When the blank is formed asabove described, the front panel 8 and the rear panel 9 are folded orbent upwardly upon the respective creased or weakened lines I5 asclearly seen in Fig. 4, the end enclosing flaps l2 and I3 at theopposite ends of the carton are folded or bent inwardly along therespective creased lines It, and the supporting lugs 25 of the flaps I3are inserted through the incisions 23 of the end flaps l2. Then theprotective end flaps M are bent upwardly and inwardly along therespective creased or weakened lines It and I8 and the attaching flanges2| are bent outwardly along the outer creased lines I8. The innersection IQ of the protective end flap is then pressed downwardly andoutwardly against the adjacent inner surfaces of the end flaps I2 and 3,and a downward and outward pressure against the flanges 2| causes theouter edges thereof to be snapped or engaged with a resilient actionbeneath the supporting and retaining lugs 30 thus holding the partsfirmly in assembled condition. The resiliency of the sheet materialholds the flanges M in permanent attached position beneath the lugs 30.The final assembled condition of this end structure is clearly indicatedin Fig. 5 of the drawing.

When the inner part I of the carton is to be set up in shippingcondition, the front and rear panels 8 and 9 are caused to assumesubstantially upright position in which they are approximately at rightangles with the bottom section I. In this position the end closure flapsI2 connected to the front panel 8 are swung upwardly slightly from theirposition shown in Fig. 4, and the lower inclined supporting edges 22 arespaced upwardly slightly from the adacent surface of the bottom panel I.These inclined edges 22 permit the flaps I2 to be swung downwardlyduring corresponding inward tilting of the front panel 8, and they mayalso serve to limit inward tilting of the front panel. When the rearpanel 9 is in upright position the two opposite end flaps I3 connectedthereto are in contacting relation at their lower edges 2% with thebottom panel I, and the rear panel 9 is thus supported against inwardmovement from its upright position. At the same time the front panel 8is supported against outward movement beyond its upright position byengagement of the abrupt shoulder 26 at the underside of the supportinglug with the lower end of the slit 23. The inner carton part is furthersupported in its normal shipping condition by insertion in telescopingrelation within the outer casing 2 which fits closely over the innerpart with its contents. Inthis position the top panel or flap Illpartially overlaps the upper edges of the boxes A as seen in Fig. 1,while the display or stick-up flap II normally assumes its originalposition within the plane of the rear panel 9.

When it is desired to set up the inner carton part for display purposes,it is removed from the structures. This enveloping housing structureclosely engages the inner and outer surfaces of the movable end flaps I2and I3 to guide and support said flaps in their operative movements.

At the time of tilting the front and rear panels as described, the boxesA will be correspondingly tilted slightly as seen in Figs. 2 and 6, thusplacing them in good position for display or observation. The frontpanel 8 may be partially cut away as indicated at. 33 so as to furtherdisplay the fronts of the boxes A.

When the carton is set up for display purposes, as above described, thetop panel or flap I0 is preferably tucked in between the rear-most boxesA and the rear panel 9, while the stick-up or display tab II is swungupwardly on its hinge or weakened line I5 into readily observabledisplay position as seen in Figs. 2, 5 and 6. When the top panel II) isthus moved or swung from its normal operative position as shown in Figs.1 and 4 into a display position when the carton is adjusted for displaypurposes as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 6, the end sections of the hinge I5positioned outside of the display tab II (see Fig. 4) are flexed thustending to move the display tab toward its display position. During theswinging movement of this panel III, the portion of the hinge I5positioned along the base of the display outer casing 2 and the frontand rear panels 8 and 9 are tilted to inclined position with referenceto the bottom panel I, as best seen in Figs. 2, 4 and 6. In this displayposition the front panel 8 is supported against undue inward movement byengagement thereof against the inclined adjacent edges 32 of theprotective end flaps I4, these edges being cut to an inclination tosupport the front panel at the desired inclination as seen in Figs. 2and 5. Also the front panel 8 may be additionally supported in itsdisplay position by engagement of the lower inclined supporting edges 22of the end flaps I2 with the bottom I. At the same time, when the rearpanel a is tilted rearwardly, the end closure flaps I3 swing upwardlypassing longitudinally through the respective elongated slots orincisions 23 until the upper edges of the lugs 25 at the abruptshoulders 27 thereof engage with the upper terminal of the incisions 23.For providing for smooth unobstructed movement of the lugs 25 throughthe slots or incisions 23, the upper end portions of the latter arepreferably curved slightly as seen at 3i in Figs. 3 and 4. Thisengagement of the shoulders 27! with the end of the slots 23 provides alimiting stop for limiting the outward swinging movement of the rearpanel 9. During all these adjusting movements of the end flaps I2 and I3, it will be seen that the enclosing folded flap It functions to guideand support the flaps I2 and I3 and to assist in retaining them in theircorrect operative interlocked relation with each other. In effect thesefolded flaps I 4 form operative protective housings or envelopes,reinforcing the adjustable interlocking end flap tab II is not flexed,the tendency being to retain it in its proper display position due tothe positioning of the panel III behind the boxes A and against theinner face of the rear panel 9. In this manner, the display tab iseasily kept in its display position and there is little tendency for itto move away from proper display position. The display tab may bemanually adjusted for short distances on its hinge I5 to place it in itsmost effective position for display purposes. It will, of course, beunderstood that the display tab II as well as other parts of the displaycarton. may be attractively decorated with ornamental material, and maybear appropriate advertising or other display matter. Also, the boxes intheir display position as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, are attractivelypresented and supported for display purposes.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction anddifferent embodiments of the invention could be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having thus been fully described, the following isclaimed:

1. In a carton, in combination, enclosing walls including front and rearpanels and a bottom, said front and rear panels being connected to saidbottom for tilting adjusting movements thereon from substantially erectshipping position into inclined display position, closure flapsrespectively connected to said front and rear panels and angularlydisposed thereto and extending toward each other into overlappingrelation, both of said overlapping closure flaps being swingable withthe tilting adjustments of the panels, one of said closure flaps havinga transversely extending elongated slot extending therethrough and partway thereacross and having an upper terminal, another of said closureflaps having a supporting lug or tongue projecting through saidelongated slot so that said tongue and slot are relatively adjustablelongitudinally of the slot during swinging adjustments of either of saidclosure flaps with the correspondpanels, a limiting shoulder connectedto said closure flap having said tongue, said limiting shoulder beingpositioned for engagement with said upper slot terminal to limit andsupport the connected panel in one of its adjusted positions, a top flapfor the carton forming an upper integral extension of. said rear panel,a weakened line in said rear panel extending along the upper edgethereof and forming a hinge on which the top flap is swingable, saidrear panel being slitted below said weakened line to form a display flapnormally disposed below and connected to said hinge beneath the same toform a part of said rear panel and being swingable on said hinge intoupwardly extending display position above said rear panel when thecarton is adJusted into display condition.

2. In a carton, in combination, enclosing walls including front and rearpanels and a bottom, saidfront and rear panels being connected to saidbottom for tilting adjusting movements thereon from substantially erectshipping position into inclined display position, closure flapsrespectively connected to said front and rear panels and angularlydisposed thereto and extending toward each other into overlappingrelation, both of said overlapping closure flaps being swingable withthe tilting adjustments of the panels, interlocking connections betweensaid swinging closure flaps for controlling and limiting the tiltingadjusting movements of said front and rear panels, a top flap for thecarton forming an upper integral extension of said rear panel, aweakened line in said rear panel extending along the upper edge thereofand forming a hingeon which the top flap is swingable, said rear panelbeing slitted below said weakened line to form a display flap normallydisposed below and connected to said hinge to form a part of said rearpanel, said display flap being swingable on said hinge into upwardlyextending display position above said rear panel when the carton isadjusted into display condition. said top flap being swingable to lieagainst the inside of said rear panel when said display flap is in itsdisplay position.

3. In a carton, in combination, enclosing walls including front and rearpanels and a bottom, said front and rear panels being connected to saidbottom for tilting adjusting movements thereon from substantially erectshipping position into inclined display position, connections betweensaid front and rear panels for controlling the adjusting movementsthereof and for holding them in adjusted positions, a top flap or panelfor the carton forming an upper integral extension of said rear panel, aweakened line extending along the upper edge of said rear panel betweenthe latter and said top panel and forming a hinge on which the top panelis swingable, said rear panel having a slit positioned below andterminating substantially at said weakened line to form a display flapnormally positioned below and connected to said hinge to form a part ofsaid rear panel, said display flap being swingable on said hinge at theupper edge of said rear panel into upwardly extending display positionabove the rear panel, and said top panel being swingable on said hingeinto downwardly extending position against the inside of the said rearpanel so as to support said display flap in its display position.

WILLIAM J. WELLS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nevins, Jr. Feb. 8, 1944

